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China, Russia veto on Syria is 'deplorable,' White House says

The White House blasted the governments of China and Russia for vetoing a new U.N. Security Council resolution designed to stem the ongoing violence in Syria.

They "are on the wrong side of history," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Western nations have struggled over how to respond to the ongoing violence in Syria, where opposition forces are battling to topple Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Thursday's resolution is the third major U.N. attempt that both countries blocked.

The resolution would have demanded a military withdrawal by Syrian forces from population centers — and carry with it a threat of sanctions.

Those vetoes are "very regrettable," "deplorable" and "highly unfortunate because it is absurd to send forth unarmed U.N. observers in the face of the brutality of the Assad regime if the consequences of failing to live up to," Carney said.

"The Assad regime's commitments are nonexistent. There have to be consequences," Carney said. "There is no doubt that Syria's future will not include Bashar al-Assad. His days are numbered, and it's a mistake to prop up the regime as it comes to an end."

"The decision by a very small minority of the Security Council to veto this action is deplorable and regrettable," Carney said.